Open champion Clarke targets Australian PGA

Newly crowned British Open champion Darren Clarke on Thursday announced he would play in the Australian PGA Championship in November, saying he was aiming for further success in warmer climes.

Written by Agence-France Presse

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Sydney:

Newly crowned British Open champion Darren Clarke on Thursday announced he would play in the Australian PGA Championship in November, saying he was aiming for further success in warmer climes.

Clarke recently became the third golfer from Northern Ireland to win one of the sport's four majors in the past 13 months with his British Open victory, and said he hoped to capitalise on his recent form.

"Irish golfers are enjoying lots of success of late and hopefully I can continue this trend," the 42-year-old said.

"My game is in great shape and I look forward to capping off a great year in Australia."

Clarke said the knowledge he could be the first Irishman to win the Australian PGA would loom large in his mind and he hoped to "have plenty of fellow Irishmen there to cheer me on."

"I am looking forward to playing golf in more warm conditions than I am used to and also testing my game on a different style course to that of a links," he added. "My family also can't wait to get to the Sunshine Coast."

Clarke will be joined by former world number one Greg Norman, Australian hopeful Jason Day and America's Gerry "Bubba" Watson at the Australian PGA, which runs at Coolum from November 24-27.